Tim Howard’s record-setting 15-save performance in the United States’ World Cup loss to Belgium was something Americans could be proud of, no matter the result. Howard was named FIFA’s Man of the Match in the loss, and players, coaches and pundits from around the world praised his extraordinary effort in net.

Howard is just the latest in a long line of top American goalkeepers. Both Kasey Keller and Brad Friedel, the two American national team goalies before Howard, played in England’s Premier League. (Friedel still does at age 43.) Howard himself plays for Everton in the Premier League, as does the current U.S. backup, Brad Guzan, who plays for Aston Villa.

In MLS, a crop of talented young goalkeepers led by D.C. United’s Bill Hamid is already grabbing attention at big clubs. And on the women’s side, U.S. goalkeepers Hope Solo and Brianna Scurry are widely considered to be some of the best to ever play the game.

America is very good at producing one specific position. Why?

Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports

Americans play a lot of sports

Sport scientist David Epstein, author of The Sports Gene, believes Americans make great goalies because so few specialize in the sport at a young age. Tim Howard grew up playing basketball in New Jersey, and Epstein believes his lack of specialization allowed him to develop a stronger spatial awareness and instincts in net.

“There’s this period of brain flexibility, particularly before the age of 12, where you have a window to gain a wide variety of physical skills,” said Epstein. “And if you take advantage of that, what physiologists call ‘developing a physical literacy,’ there’s some evidence that you become a more well-rounded athlete overall. And Tim Howard, to me, seems to be more generally athletic than other goalies are.”

By not specializing in soccer, Howard gave himself the best chance to capitalize on what Epstein calls “implicit learning,” which roughly means learning by experiencing or playing sports, as opposed to being taught explicitly what to do.

While in other nations a goalkeeper may be taught from a very young age how to be a goalkeeper, Howard grew up learning how to be an athlete. And in a position that relies so much on athleticism and instinct (many soccer shots are moving so fast and coming from such a short distance the human eye can’t even track them) Howard’s more general athletic development prepared him to be a world-class keeper.

D.C. United keeper Bill Hamid. (Jim Urquhart-USA TODAY Sports)

There isn’t a stigma around the position

In other countries, it’s hard to get young players to play goalie because keepers don’t get to touch the ball as often. What right field is to baseball, goalie is to soccer.

That doesn’t seem to be an issue in this country, says Jason Davis, the host of radio program Soccer Morning.

“There isn’t as much a stigma attached to that position in this country,” Davis said. “If you grow up in England or Germany or Spain you don’t want to be a goalie. You want to be a number 10, you want to be a striker, you want to score goals.

“But here there’s not as much stigma attached, and you can sell a kid on keeper. Tell him, ‘You can use your hands. It’s fun.’ You can sell kids on it in this country like maybe you can’t elsewhere.”

Without that stigma attached to it, the most talented athletes in this country aren’t pushed away from the position.

The rest of the world believes Americans can do it

America produces great goalies, but it’s also true that many have gotten shots in top leagues because in Europe it’s accepted that Americans make great goalies. It’s become a part of the narrative about American soccer players, so clubs there are more likely to take a risk that they might not on a field player.

“[In Europe] they are able to compartmentalize Americans with regards to soccer,” said Davis. “They say ‘they’re athletic, they’re tall, they’re good with their hands.’ To them, Americans equal athletes.

Tim Howard is the latest in a line of great American goalies. Why is this country so good at making them?

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